SML - Industrial Chemicals

Sorbitol[pronunciation?], also known as glucitol[pronunciation?], is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, changing the aldehyde group to a hydroxyl group. Most sorbitol is made from corn syrup, but it is also found in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes.[2] It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. Sorbitol is an isomer of mannitol, another sugar alcohol; the two differ only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon 2.[3] While similar, the two sugar alcohols have very different sources in nature, melting points, and uses.

Sorbitol's chemical stability and its characteristic stable (gamma) crystallised form are widely appreciated. Sorbitol powder sorbitol has excellent tableting properties, as well as a cool taste and pleasant mouthfeel. Sorbitol powder is used for non-cariogenic, non-acidogenic and sugar-free formulations, in different types of tablets, as well as in sachets and dry syrups.